Archive for October, 2016

Halloween…that one day of the year when even the most typical child can experience sensory overload! Check out these 5 simple tips for a fun and low-stress Halloween!

1. Have your child try on his costume at least one week before Halloween. This prevents those OMG moments that can arise from itchy or tight clothing. You’ll get a chance to cut off all those troublesome tags too!

2. Have replacement treats if your child is on a special diet and have a plan that your child agrees on for switching to “safe” candy. If your child knows the plan ahead of time, he will be more willing to cooperate with you!

3. Plan your family’s Halloween fun! Invite friends that your child feels comfortable with for snacks and trick or treating. You don’t even have to go trick or treating. Plan the day according to what you and your child are comfortable doing. If your son or daughter would prefer an evening of fun snacks and games at home, then that’s what you should do! Creating an environment where your child feels safe and at ease will help them stay calm and focus on the fun!

4. Try to stick to regular meal and bedtime routines as much as possible. Cranky and hungry kids are scary even without the costumes!

5. Realize that it’s Halloween and the most important part of the day is NOT getting the perfect picture with the scarecrow, making jack-o-lantern cupcakes, or reaching every house on the block. The most important aspect of any holiday is spending time with your sweet little pumpkin!

Screens are everywhere! Even as we enter a bookstore, we see a variety of tablets and big HD screens playing the latest movie releases. But, when all is said and done, are the 30 minutes of quiet time we get from giving a child a smart phone or iPad a good exchange?

There are emergency situations that pop up, and as parents we need to do what is right for our children based our individual situations. But what about our daily regular daily routines? What are we trying to accomplish by giving a child a smart phone? Maybe we want a quiet dinner, or we want to be able to finish cleaning the kitchen. We might need some extra time to respond to work emails. And we should be able to have time to do these important tasks. But when we give a child an iPad at dinner, he may be quiet, but he is missing an important part of growing up! The interaction children get at dinner when they can sit with their family in a safe environment and discuss the day’s events is important for social development.

Instead of turning on Netflix while you clean, maybe have an activity they can work on in the kitchen. Better yet, divide the chores according to age and everyone is able to help clean the kitchen faster!

Responding to work emails is trickier! If you can’t wait until the kids are sleeping, maybe you can respond during homework time, and let the kids know that you have work to complete as well.

When a child is misbehaving at the supermarket, will giving him a smartphone solve the problem? Probably not. The child has learned that the reward for misbehaving is getting to play on your smart phone! Instead, plan on quick trips to the store or make a list with your child to make your food shopping a fun learning experience too. The supermarket is a great place to talk about eating healthy, letters, counting, money, manners, and more!

Numerous studies have shown that children who play games on iPads and smartphones, talk later, have less focus and attention, and can even have delays in basic motor skills. Have you ever tried to take an iPad away from a 5 year old? The hour it takes to bargain with your child to get the iPad back makes the 30 minutes of quiet seem irrelevant!

The next time you need to occupy your children to get work done, take a second to think of the pros and cons before handing them a screen. If you can’t think of any other activity, I’ve given you a list below!

Here is a list of some activities they could do instead (there are a lot more!):

As we all know, the only way to help a child with an ADHD diagnosis is to TREAT THE ISSUES! The best way for parents to be sure their child is getting the needed support and services, is to KNOW THEIR CHILD’S RIGHTS!

The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has received thousands of complaints of discrimination based on disability, with 10 % being students with ADHD. The most common concern is that these students are not being evaluated in a timely manner, and are NOT receiving the needed aides and services.

Here are the facts:
1. Schools MUST evaluate a student when he/she NEEDS or is BELIEVED TO NEED special education or services.

2. Schools are OBLIGATED to provide services based on SPECIFIC needs, NOT GENERALIZATIONS about ADHD or any other diagnosis. (Each student should be evaluated individually without comparison to previous students or case studies.)

3. Students who experience behavioral challenges, or seem unfocused COULD HAVE ADHD, and may need to be evaluated.

4. Schools must allow parents to APPEAL decisions regarding identification, evaluation, or educational placement of students with any disability, including ADHD.

How can we ensure our children are given the necessary services and aides to help them succeed at school?

1. Be an advocate for your child. No one knows your child better than their parents (or guardians).

2. Stay informed! Know your rights and be knowledgeable about the latest advances and research regarding ADHD. Being aware of different accommodations and treatments will help you to make the best decisions for your child!

3. Maintain a good relationship with your child’s homeroom and resource teacher. Having an open line of communication will keep you and your child’s teacher aware of any important changes in behavior.

The right combination of support from parents, teachers, and mentors is crucial in helping each child succeed!

Resources:

U.S. Department of Education Releases Guidance On Civil Rights of Students with ADHD, July 26, 2016